Telling Our Family We Were Expecting!

After being married for 4 years I think our family gave up on us having any children.... But little did they know we were just on a 5 year plan!

We are planners, we plan everything but after taking 2 or 3 tests in January and those being negative I just gave up on it happening when I wanted it to happen. I was working out all the time trying to lose some weight but I had stop losing any so finally on March 10th I took another test and it was positive! I freaked out and started crying, I couldn't believe it, we were pregnant! J wanted to wait to tell our family until after we confirmed it with the doctor.  After getting to see the little baby on an ultrasounds and about 6 weeks later, on Easter, we finally told our family.  J designed an Easter card to tell everyone that we were expecting a little one. The card had a bunny on the front, then it opened up saying "Hippity Hop the Easter Bunny has some Eggstraordinary News"... and on the back said "We are Eggspecting!' Coming November 2014!"


We secretly recorded our family's reactions when we told them we were pregnant. I am so happy we did this so we can go back and watch it and see how happy they are to find out they are going to be grandparents, great grandparents, and great aunts/uncles.

We told J's mom and grandmother at the same time and then when the rest of the family showed up for Easter lunch we told them.

{j's Mom}

{j's grandmother)

{my mom}

{j's aunt(his mom's sister)}

A few weeks later we told j's dad and stepmom.

{J's Stepmom}

{j's dad}

{j's step sister and brothers}

{my aunt (my mom's sister)}

{my aunt, uncle and cousin (my dad's sister)}

I still cry while watching these videos and seeing how excited everyone was for us and our little baby. And also how fast they already love the baby.

I'll love you forever

I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living

My baby you'll be.

xoxo

ac

Declan at 1 Month

Declan: One Month

• You eat 3 ounces every 3-4 hours, most of the time it only takes you 20-30 minutes but there are times its takes a full hour to drink the bottle. 
• You wear newborn diapers but are outgrowing some of your newborn clothes
• You weigh 9.5 pounds!
• You love to sleep, all the time, unless its 2am when your dad wants to go bed then your wide awake.
• At night you sleep for 3-4 hours at a time, you've done a 5 hour stretch once and it was amazing.
• You spit up and get hiccups a lot!!
• You sleep next to me but in your bassinet. Sometimes you have to move to my chest so we can all get sleep. 
• You are a loud sleeper, but I'm starting to get used to it and if you don't make your loud nosies I check on you to make sure you are breathing.
• You have done some tummy time mostly laying on my chest or your daddy's chest.
• You cry like crazy when your daddy changes your diaper but not if I change it.
• You HATE bath time... It's like we are torturing you but once you are dry and put clothes back on you stop crying.
• My favorite part of day with you is when you start to fall asleep on me and you open your eyes one last time to make sure I'm still there and you smile and go back to sleep.
• You can fall asleep anywhere, just like your me!
• You like your paci but you don't have to have it all the time. Usually about 30 mins before its time to eat.
• Everyone thinks you look like me, I see some of your daddy in you but right now, you look like me.
• You don't mind being in your car seat and once the car is moving you go to sleep, which is a good thing because we love to travel! Hopefully it will stay like that!
• You are starting to smile and it's so cute!
• We celebrated your first Thanksgiving, you were 2 weeks and 1 day!

{ONE MONTH)

{you have so many friends and family that love you so much}

{family all month long came to meet you}

{first razorback game}

{my mom's best friend}

{first thanksgiving - 2 weeks old}

{pepaw loving on you}

{3 days old and lots of family came to see you)

{4 generations - mooh, gigi, j and declan}

{my most favorite aunt and uncle}

{3 generations, papaw, j and declan}

While we are still getting used to managing life with a newborn and it's exhausting, but in the most wonderful way and we wouldn't change it for the world!

Happy 1 Month Birthday Baby Boy!

I'll love you forever

I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living

My baby you'll be.

xoxo

ac

Declan Newborn Pictures

It's amazing how expensive newborn pictures are and the availably is really hard to find also! Luckily we did a lot asking and a lot of research and we believe we found the best person there is in our area. Here's our newborn pictures taken at 1 week new. They are so sweet! 

{grumpy face}

{christmas is a just a month away}

{loving monogram things}

{nerd baby and harry potter}

{ten tiny toes}

{necklace given to me by his gigi}

{watch out ladies, he's new in town}

{sleeping on a snoopy comic book}

{razorback quilt made by declan's great grandmother}

{photos by Jen L. Davis}

I'll love you forever

I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living

My baby you'll be.

xoxo

ac

Introducing baby Declan James

Declan James is finally here!!!

On Tuesday, November 11th, J and I went to lunch at Chili's and went to few stores and were able to just hang out, as husband and wife and not parents, for the last time. 

After being a week past due I was finally admitted in to the hospital that evening so I could be induced. 

We arrived at the hospital at 5pm and got checked in. I had Chick-fil-a and a cookies and cream milkshake as my last meal! Of course nothing happen Tuesday night but 5:45am Wednesday morning the nurse came in and started getting me ready for my epidural. That was the most painful thing out of the entire day (luckily, it worked and I didn't feel anything the rest of the day)! After that I was in and out of sleep for most of the day. Around 2:30pm they came in and broke my water. About 3:30 or 4:00 they came in and started giving me oxygen and watching the monitor because Declan's heartrate kept dropping and I wasn't progressing any so they called for an emergency c-section. I have never been so scared for my son's life or my life. I also have never prayed so many times in those 30 mins before he was born to make sure he was okay and that I would be okay. God was on our side that day and took care of us and we both made it out healthy! 

{very happy and proud new dad}

{born wednesday november 12, 2014 at 5:29 pm, weighed 8.6 and 20 inches long}

{just a few minutes old}

{we left the hospital on friday november 14 and you weighed 8 pounds}

We love you baby Declan and we are so very happy you are finally here!

I'll love you forever

I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living

My baby you'll be.

xoxo

ac